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LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Emmy winner and Los Angeles native Rick Garcia, co-anchor of the weeknight editions of KCAL9 News at 8 and 10 p.m., has been given the expanded responsibility of anchoring the 6 p.m. newscasts for sister station CBS2, it was announced today by Steve Mauldin, President and General Manager, CBS2 and KCAL9.

Garcia, who joined KCAL in April 2009, has helped make KCAL9 News at 10 p.m. the most-watched primetime newscast in Southern California during the 2010-11 television season. This marks the first time that KCAL has topped its 10 p.m. local news competitors over the course of a full season.

“As he approaches his 25th anniversary on Los Angeles television next year, it is clear that Rick Garcia has played a major role in the growth and success of KCAL’s primetime newscasts,” Mauldin said. “In addition, he has been a regular contributor and substitute anchor on CBS2’s evening newscasts, which makes him a familiar and well-liked presence on both of our stations. We are extremely pleased to recognize Rick’s importance to our stations and the communities we serve by expanding his responsibilities to include anchoring CBS2’s 6 p.m. newscast.”

In August 2008, Garcia received the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Excellence in Broadcast Journalism award. He has also been honored by the Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program with a Striving for Excellence Award which recognized his career achievements and community contributions.

A Los Angeles native, Garcia attended California State University at Northridge, Antelope Valley College and College of the Desert. He is actively involved with several community organizations, including the Facing Forward Foundation (which supports doctors who provide reconstructive plastic surgeries for underprivileged children with deformities), the Michael Hoefflin Foundation (supporting children with cancer), the Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Since 2006, Garcia has provided the “Unity” award at Quartz Hill High School in the Antelope Valley, his alma mater. The award grants a scholarship for two students at the school every year.

Garcia joined KCAL9 and CBS2 following 22 years with KTTV-TV and its Fox-owned sister station KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. He joined KTTV in April 1987 as a weekend anchor and weekday reporter and began serving as the station’s weekday sports anchor in April 1988. Garcia served as host and executive producer of KTTV’s NFL post-game, “Fox Overtime.” He also hosted KTTV’s Major League Baseball post-game show, “Extra Innings.”

Garcia began his broadcasting career in radio in 1979 as an on-air personality, sports director and play-by-play announcer at KAVL-AM in the Antelope Valley. In 1982, he joined KTN, a cable television station in Palm Springs, as sports director in 1982. One year later, Garcia became the weekend sports anchor at KVBC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas. In 1984, he joined KOAT-TV, the ABC affiliate in Albuquerque, in the same capacity. Prior to joining KTTV, Garcia was the weekday sports anchor at KTSP-TV, the CBS affiliate in Phoenix, from 1985-87.